Hyderabad Literary Festival kicks off with sparkling sessions

Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) 15th edition: diverse sessions, engaging discussions, and renowned speakers draw attendees of all ages.

The 15th edition of the Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) commenced on Friday, drawing attendees across all age groups as they tried to run from one interesting event to another.

Visitors were seen pouring over schedules, either physical copies or digital versions on their phones, planning their participation in the three-day event.

The festival opened with a plenary session titled A Life in Cinema, featuring actor Shabana Azmi in conversation with HLF Festival Director Amita Desai. Ms. Azmi shared vivid memories of working with filmmaker Shyam Benegal and reflected on the transformation in how Indian actors are perceived internationally, contrasting the 1980s and 90s with the present. She also addressed the evolving dynamics of gender equality and the role of art in fostering change.

While concluding the session, Ms. Azmi critiqued the portrayal of women in Indian cinema, particularly in ‘item numbers’, which she described as perpetuating the male gaze.

The festival’s momentum continued with I Am What I Am, a session featuring social activist Sunita Krishnan in conversation with Swathi Kantamani. Ms. Krishnan shared insights from her memoir and recounted her journey of rescuing women from sex trafficking rackets.

As the day unfolded, parallel sessions, workshops, and events engaged attendees across the venue. Post-lunch, actor Huma Qureshi joined Kinnera Murthy to discuss her book Zeba: An Accidental Superhero. Ms. Qureshi highlighted the male dominance in superhero narratives and called attention to gender stereotypes. “Whenever women fight, it is stereotyped as a catfight, but when men fight, nobody calls it a dogfight,” she remarked.

Author Moupia Basu’s session on her book Bhagmati: Why Hyderabad’s Lost Queen is the Soul of the City explored Hyderabad’s history, including the debated question of whether the city was ever historically named Bhagyanagar. The discussion captivated history enthusiasts, shedding light on lesser-known facets of the city’s past.